5G: What is the Future of Fashion

5G has the power to completely transform the fashion industry, from the behind-the-scenes process of designing and manufacturing to the staging of runway shows and purchasing of the latest trends, both instore and via online shopping. Tech trends in the fashion industry isn’t a wholly new concept - we’re already seeing the digitisation of the fashion industry begin as COVID-19 forces companies and consumers to turn to digital solutions for the production, development and sale of fashion. But this is only the beginning, with innovative, practical technologies emerging to ensure that both customers and designers are given a safe, easy way to showcase collections and enjoy a seamless online shopping experience when looking for the latest pieces.

Design and production

The increased bandwidth of 5G allows for visually rich and detailed Realtime content to be displayed over AR, VR and 3D modelling. Within fashion we may see AR and VR applications being applied to the design process, allowing designers to conceptualise creations digitally in AR and view fabrics in higher detail than ever before. To put it simply, life-like fashion design can be conducted over the 5G network. There is a sustainable aspect to this as fabric is not needed to design in AR and VR, with designers simply using the fabric sample within the tech program. There is a huge potential here of avoiding or reducing fabric waste, as garments could be designed without a single piece of fabric having to be cut.

Collaboration

5G will offer ultra-fast download speeds and low latency communications, allowing people to interact digitally in real time with almost zero delay. This will allow for a group of designers to collaborate online, in real time, in a way that is digitally native. Imagine a group of designers in five different locations across the world all working on the same piece of clothing using AR technology. Changes could be made simultaneously and instantaneously to this piece with zero delay and no need for travel. The fast download speeds and quick communication speeds of 5G will make this process more likely to happen without glitches, giving remote designers a greater chance of designing together with ease.

Runway Shows

The way we collectively view fashion has recently undergone a huge shift, with designers such as Giorgio Armani opting to live-stream their Milan fashion shows without a physical audience. With global distancing restrictions tightened, runway shows are not always possible with multiple models in one location. What we’re now witnessing is a shift to “digital” fashion where the clothes, models and showcasing of garments is all constructed digitally. We’re already seeing “digital fashion” being utilised by tech and fashion companies alike. With 5G, digital fashion doesn’t just have to exist on a screen. It can instead be brought to life through AR, VR and innovative holographic content.

Moving forward, the live fashion shows we’ve grown accustomed to could begin to adopt 5G technology in order to create more immersive fashion viewing experiences. How this will come to life is up to the creatives but think mixed reality runway shows where you can view additional digital elements through your mobile device or virtual goggles. Another possibility is a fashion show with no “real life” models walking down the runway, but rather life-like 3D or holographic replicas that can be viewed through a 5G-enabled device. You could even view the flow and detail of garments, the fabrics and cut of a dress and the intricate details as if it’s right in front of you. Exclusive front row seats could be a thing of the past, with all those who opt for 5G able to sit in the middle of the action as models walks down the runway wearing the latest fashion.

These emerging technologies have already found a place within the fashion industry, with a number of designers opting to enhance their shows by using the speed and reliability of the 5G network. British telco Three Mobile recently brought this to life with their Fashion Fuelled by 5G event at London Fashion Week, showcasing the potential of fashion and technology with models walking the runway in AR. The grand finale saw world-renowned fashion model Adwoa Aboah using her handset to watch a 3D hologram of herself walk the catwalk from the front row, along with the crowd. This was achieved through 106 synchronised cameras, a 3D volumetric version of the Vogue cover star and a 5G connection. To further enhance the experience, those attending the event were shown the cuts and colours of the upcoming season, with a layered experience of the senses that included sound, texture and scents to accompany the visual experience. 

Optus 5G available in selected areas.  Not in NT or TAS.